GOJU KENSHA AUSTRALIA
www.jamessumarac.com
NEWSLETTER AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2003

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Dedication to Jasmin Sumarac

Because this may be difficult to read, here is a transcript -

"SUMARAC - Jasmin.

You will always be remembered in our hearts and minds. Many of us were honoured to see you grow from a child into a beautiful woman. Your martial art skills were outstanding and as an instructor your warm and caring approach was something we all aspired to have. We will treasure our memories of you.

- The instructors and students of Goju Kensha Australasia."

We all would like to pay our respects to Shihan Gary Jackson, who's father passed away recently. Gary is an inspiration to so many of us, and we would like to let him know are thoughts are with him also.

THIS ISSUE

Goju Kensha Kata Names

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Goju Kensha Kata Names

It's amazing what you find when you clean up. The other day I was looking through a notebook, trying to find something I had written down. Flicking through the pages, I came across notes I had written during Master Ohtsuka's visit to Australia a few years ago. Towards the end was Master Ohtsuka's opinion on the meaning of Goju Kensha kata names. I thought I should share these meanings with others, before I file them away and lose them again!

These meanings have been translated from Chinese to Japanese to English, and I am sure that others in Goju Kensha may know of other meanings. I am happy to put any errors down to my bad handwriting.

Brad Orders, Shodan

Kingsbury Dojo

Name

Translation

Description

Geki-sai dai

"To destroy", and "long"

The name reflects the long stances and powerful moves in this kata.

Geki-sai sho

"To destroy", and "short"

The name reflects the short stances and powerful moves in this kata.

Sanchin

Three powers

This usually refers to the "three battles" – mind, body and spirit.  It can also refer to an attack from three regions – up, all sides, and down.

Tensho

Movement of the fist

We further interpret this to mean "flowing hands".

Saifa *

To pull and throw

This is an interesting translation.  Usually we think of Saifa as meaning "tearing".

San Seru

36

36 vital points are struck in this kata

Seienchin *

Movement to create power

"chin" means power

Seipei

18

Named after the 18 Buddhist disciples

Happoren

Eight (possibly…)

The three regions from Sanchin, + the "four gates" (left side, right side, front, back), + the starting point = 8

Shisochin *

Squeezing to create power

This is another interesting translation.  Other translations are "Four Gates", or "Four peaceful hands facing each other".

Seisan

13

There are 5 movements, and 8 trigrams (directions).  5 + 8 = 13

Kurarumpha

Unsure

It is both the name for a vital point on the ankle, and the name of a mountain (perhaps where the kata originated?)

Superinpai

100, or 8

The number 100 represents infinity.  The number 8 represents faith in Buddha, referring to the 8 sufferings.  The message is "belief will protect you from suffering".

* These kata are so old that the original Chinese characters are lost. The literal meanings of these names are therefore open to conjecture.

Editor - Shihan Gary Jackson lent me a book, 'Classical kata of Okinawan karate' by Pat McCarthy, suggesting I read a particular section regarding kata names. It reveals some interesting fact about the name of some of our katas, their history and meanings. For example, in the book, what we know as Happoren, is referred to as Pipuren in Okinawan or Papuren in Japanese, Eight steps in time, and what we know as Nifunchi, is refered to as Naihunchi (Okin.) or Tekki (Jap.), Sideways fighting , or surreptitious steps. So as is evident here, as much as there have been variations through translations, the meaning behind each kata has remained the same, since the principles practiced within each kata have not, and should not change. In summary I would suggest that learning the meaning of the name to a kata, helps to understand the principles within the kata.

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